“Go, send, or disobey.” — John Piper
I believe that missions start in the heart. You first have to love God
enough to hear a call to share that love. I also believe that not everyone is called
to go, at least in the capacity of overseas or even across the state, some are
called to send. Think about Paul and his mission work, some stayed to teach and
grow the local church and some went with him to help spread and teach others.
We need to refocus our thinking of what mission’s
means. As a church we don’t completely understand what being a missionary is or
even how to be a missionary. As believers in Christ we are all missionaries,
that just come with it. When we try to ignore that fact we are being
disobedient to the call of being a follower of Christ.
As followers we have the choice to Go, Send, or Disobey.
So let’s unpack that -
V GO: In Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) Therefore go and
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The dictionary says GO means to pursue a
certain course. That could mean your course is to stay in your home church
to teach others to love God and about who His son is, train them on how to tell
others so they can go to faraway places. Or to pursue a certain course may mean
you are to work in your home town at an existing organization that will allow
you to love on people and share with them who Jesus is. It could also mean you
are to open you home to help others
In any case we are to go and make disciples
of all nations, that nation may be out your back door or across the Atlantic
Ocean. To know what course God has for you first start with prayer asking God
to show you.
V SEND: There are many ways we are to send out our missionaries
1. Pray: We think
we are not able to support missions because the first thought that comes to
mind is they want money, yes that is helpful but our first thought should be I
will pray for them.
a. When you hear someone is
active in a mission field as them how can I pray for you? Then commit to pray
for them and their specific request.
b. As you pray for them pray
for guidance for yourself. Ask God to show you how you can do more for them. If
you are honest you will see what God wants you to do
2. Support: Ok now this is the time/money part, I understand
not everyone is in a financial spot to give money and maybe not even your time.
However, if you go back to step 1 and pray first God will show you if that is
true. For most missionaries it cost anywhere from $10-20 per day in a foreign
country, so you can see a little can go a very long way. Even a dollar can meet
a need.
V Disobey: At this point we have a simple choice if we are
being called to Go is some way and don’t or we are being called Send in some
way and don’t they we have decided to DISOBEY the call God has given everyone. If you love
me, you will keep my commandments John 14:15 (ESV); “Why do you call me ‘Lord,
Lord’, and not do what I tell you?” Luke 6:46 (ESV)
